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0. H. NEEDHAM. Pneumatic Action for Organs. No. 227,042

Patented April 27, 1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORWELL H. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. P. NEEDHAM & SON, OF SAME PLACE.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,042, dated April 27, 1880.

Application filed October 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORWELL H. NEEDHAM, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Musical Instruments, of which the a following is a specification.

My invention relates to the so-called pneumatics or pneumatic keys, more strictly speaking to the pneumatic motors employed in certain kinds of musical instruments to operate or control the operation of the sound-producing devices.

The object of my invention is to provide for the repetition of the operation of these pneumatic motors with more alaerity than has hitherto been possible, so that a note or notes may be quickly repeated.

My invention consists in the combination of a pneumatic motor and a valve or independently-moving portion applied to the motor itself, for remaining closed during the operation of the motor or its movable portion, and to open with alacrity by its own movement when the supply of air to the inside of the motor is 2 5 stopped by the valve controlling the operation of the motor and establish an equilibrium of pressure inside and outside the motor.

It also consists in various combinations of parts and details, hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a section of a portion of a mechanical musical instrument, including a longitudinal section of a pneumatic motor embodying 3 5 my invention, showing the latter ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the motor in operation. Fig.3 isatransverse section of the same. Fig. 4 is a similar section of a portion of amechanical ll] usical instrument and ofapneumatic motor embodying my invention in a slightly modified form and representing the said motor as ready for operation. Fig. 5 represents a section of a portion of a mechanical musical instrument, including a longitudinal 4 5 section of a pneumatic motor embodying my invention in slightly modified form and ready for operation; and Fig. 6 is an outside view of the latter, having slightly different details.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring, first, to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A designates a wind-chest, to be connected with suitable bellows for exhausting the air partially or wholly therefrom. It contains a series of pneumatic motors, B, for operating the sound-pro- 5 5 ducing devicesas, for instance, the valves controlling reeds or pipessaid motors being severally provided with air-inlet ducts or passages 0, through which air under atmospheric pressure may enter from outside the windchest, so as to expand, and thereby operate the motors while air is exhausted from said wind-chest. The entrance of air into the inlet ducts or passages O is, in this example of my invention, controlled by a perforated strip 6 5 or sheet, constituting a valve, passed over the mouths of the same, and thus the operation of the sound-producin g devices by the motors is effected.

The mouths of the ducts or passages are constructed so as to form a rest or support for the perforated strip or sheet.

As here shown, the pneumatic motors B consist each of two boards, one, B, fixed to the wind-chest, and another, B, connected by flexi- 7 5 ble walls B to the former, so as to be free to move outward along two guide-pins, a, the whole forming an expansible chamber.

A spring, D, holds the outboard B of each pneumatic motor in proximity to the other board, B, thereof when not otherwise actuated.

In the out-board of each motor are openings 1), communicating with a recess, 0, in the inner side. Across this recess 0, from the main portion of the out-board, is stretched a flexible strip, E, of india-rubber or other suitable material, attached to the motor itself, and constituting a valve or independently-movable portion, which, preferably, as well as the recess 0 and opening I), are arranged opposite the in- 0 ner end of the air duct or passage 0, communicating with such motor. 011 the entrance of air into any of the motors the valve E thereof is immediately forced up against the inner ends of the openings 1) in the out-board 5 B so that they are closed, whereupon the air acts to expand the motor. When the supply of incoming air is shut off by the valve controlling the operation of the motor, consisting, in this instance, of the perforated strip or sheet,

the valve E, through its elasticity and by its own movement, is removed from-the ends of the openings 1) in the out-board B, and thereupon an equilibrium between the air-pressure inside and outside the motor is established, and it collapses with alacrity under impulse from the spring D, and the motor is ready for further operation. As the valve E opens by its own movement when the supply of incoming air is shut off, the relief afforded is immediate before the pneumatic motor has time to move, which is a great advantage.

In Fig. 4 the parts are the same, save that the out-board B of each motor is hinged to the in-board or other board B at one end, and swings from that point; and in lieu of a valve of the kind just described for controlling the openings I) throughthe out-board, a valve consisting of a suitable faced secondary board or strip, E, hinged at one end, is employed, and a spring consisting of a wire, F, fastened to the out-board and bearing on this valve, serves to force it away from the out-board. A cushion, G, arranged on the valve E and bearing against the in-board of the motor, keeps the valve against the out board, to render the motor ready for operation. Air entering the air-duct (l, communicating with the motor, holds the valve E to its seat 011 the out-board, and then expands the motor. When the air-supply is out off the spring F opens the valve E, an equilibrium of pressure insideand outside the motor is established, and the motor collapses with alacrity and is ready for operation again.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the motor is not arranged in a wind-chest, A, but is internally in communication with a wind-chest, so that air may be exhausted from it when the proper appliancefor instance, a sheet or strip of perforated paper or a finger-key-is suitably operated. The out-board B is hinged, as in the last de scribed example of my invention, but here it is composed of a rectangular frame and has a valve, E orindependently-movin g part hinged at one end to its outer side and extended beyond it at the free end. Springs consisting, in Fig. 5, of elastic india-rubber strips F, and in Fig. 6 of obliquely-extending wires F connccting the out-hoard and valve, tend to hold them together.

H, Fig. 5, designates a pallet or valve controlling a reed chamber or cell, I, and provided with a pin, J, extending through the wind-chest A and abutting against the valve E of the motor. When the motor is exhausted of air the valve is kept closed by air-pressure, and, acting through the pin J, opens the valve H of the reed chamber or cell 1, and allows of the operation of the latter. When the exhaust of the motor ceases the spring K, which closes the valve H, raises the valve E from the outboard of the motor, and quickly establishing an equilibrium of pressure inside and outside the motor, renders it fit for further operation.

It is obvious that my invention is applicable to various kinds of musical instruments, whether mechanical or manual, and that various modifications may be made in the pneumatic motors and their appurtenances without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hen a manual key-board is employed the manual keys serve to operate valves for controlling the supply of air to the motors, which said valves are here substituted by the perforated strip or sheet. The quickness with which the motors may be repeatedly actuated allows of a quick repetition of notes-a great desideratum in a musical instrument.

NVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a pneumatic motor and a valve or indepcndently-moving portion applied to the motor itself, for remaining closed during the operation of the motor or its movable portion, and to open with alacrity by its own movement when the supply of air to the inside of the motoris stopped by the valve controlling the operation of the motor and establish an equilibrium inside and outside the motor.

2. The combination of a pneumatic motor and a valve or independently-movin g portion applied to the motor itself, for remainin g closed during the operation of the motor or its movable portion, and to open with alacrity by its own movement through its own resilience or the resilience of a spring when the supply of air to the inside of the motor is stopped by the valve controlling the operation of the motor and establish an equilibrium of pressure inside and outside the motor.

3. The combination of a pneumatic motor, an air duct or passage establishing communication between the same, and a rest or support for a perforated music sheet or strip, and a valve or llltlGl'JGlldClltlY-IDOVi11g portion applied to the motor itself, for remaining closed during the operation of the motor or its movable portion, and to open with alacrity by its own movement when the supply of air to the inside of the motor is stopped by the valve controlling the operation of the motor and establish an equilibrium of pressure inside and outside the motor.

O. H. NEEDHAM.

\Vitnesses:

T. J. KEANE, E. P. J nssUr. 

